Erythrina is bellong to Fabaceae (legume) family and known as the red genus (erythros which means red and alludes to the bright red flowers and seeds).  The genus Erythrina is a group of shrubs and trees which have their origin is in South Africa, West Indies, Brazil, and Australia. The genus contains over 170 species.

The coastal coral tree is an ideal garden plant and, because of its unique appearance, has continued to draw the interest of botanists, horticulturist, nature lovers, and the general gardening public for many decades. Erythrina caffra is widely loved for its warm red to scarlet-coloured flowers. Its popularity can be ascribed to its ease of cultivation and long flowering period.

Erythrina caffra is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree, Its size depends largely on the climate and soil conditions. It is normally 8–10 m heigh, but may reach a height of 20 m in coastal and forested regions where the conditions are optimal. This species forms a round-headed, spreading canopy and has a beautifully light green appearance when in leaf.

As with all other erythrinas, the leaves are typically trifoliate (three leaflets), which are broadly ovate (egg-shaped) to elliptic (oval and narrowed to rounded ends, widest at or about the middle), the terminal leaflet is the largest. The leaflet petiole (leaflet stalk) is with or without prickles. The leaves closely resemble those of a sister species, Erythrina lysistemon (sacred coral tree). When not in flower it can be rather difficult to tell the two species apart.

Flowering starts from cold winter and carries on throughout spring. The flowers are spectacular and are produced before the leaves appear and carried in large clusters at the ends of thick,  stalks. Superficially they are shaped like cockscombs. The flower has a short, broad, standard petal, the lower half of which curves upward to expose the stamens and they give the flower a bewhiskered appearance. When compared to the flowers of Erythrina lysistemon, the latter have longer, narrower standard petals which fold to enclose the stamens. There is also a difference in colour between E. lysistemon and E. caffra. E caffra has mainly orange-scarlet flowers, in contrast to the clear scarlet of the northern species.

The fruits are dark, in cylindrical pods, which are up to 65 mm long. The pods split to release the small, shiny, coral-red seeds. As seeds become older, they turn a rich red-brown. The flowers of Erythrina caffra do not produce any fragrance, and only colour, in combination with the reward of nectar, which the tree produces in abundance, is used to attract pollinator birds in their native forests.

Erythrina caffra is a subtropical tree that occurs in the warm and frost-free to light frost coastal regions of the Eastern Cape and northern KwaZulu-Natal. The trees are found in various soil types from wet, well-drained, humus-rich soils to dry, clay soils.

The branches of Coast Coral Tree are armed with prickles, which might serve as protection to herbivores especially when trees are still young. Fully grown trees are fairly drought resistant and can withstand several degrees of frost. In areas where there is severe frost, it may well grow but chances are that they won’t flower. The seeds of all erythrinas are said to be poisonous and the leaves of Erythrina caffra are known to have poisoned cattle.

As with all erythrinas, the Coast Coral Tree is easily cultivated by seeds. Another effective and more instant propagation method is by making giant hardwood cuttings called truncheons. These are branches measuring at least 40 mm in diameter. This method works very well and cuttings must be taken just before the trees come out of dormancy which is late winter or early spring.

 Erythrina caffra should be planted in sunny places in well-drained soil. In landscape terms in the milder areas of our region can be used as edging for a patio, or as a specimen plant or in small groups. They can also be used in large rock gardens.